Scenery Specialist Report Sherman Pass Project

Transcription

1 SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Regulatory Framework Scenery Specialist Report Sherman Pass Project Prepared by Barbara Jackson, Forest Landscape Architect April 27, 2015 The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) states that it is the continuing responsibility of the Federal Government to use all practicable means to assure for all Americans, aesthetically and culturally pleasing surroundings. NEPA also requires A systematic and interdisciplinary approach which would insure the integrated use of the natural and social sciences and the environmental design arts into planning and decision-making which may have an impact on man s environment. To accomplish this, numerous Federal laws require all Federal land management agencies to consider scenery and aesthetic resources in land management planning, resource planning, project design, implementation, and monitoring. Several USDA handbooks have been developed to establish a framework for management of visual resources; including, but not limited to: National Forest Landscape Management Volume 2, Chapter 1 the Visual Management System (Agriculture Handbook 462, USDA Forest Service 1974) Landscape Aesthetics, A Handbook for Scenery Management (Agriculture Handbook 701, USDA Forest Service 1995). This evaluation applies current National Forest Scenery Management methodology in conjunction with existing Colville National Forest Plan direction. The past land management plans were developed under the old Visual Management System (VMS) of The concept of that system was basically a visual resource snapshot in static time framework and was used mostly as a mitigation tool for forest management. A 1995 update called the Scenery Management System (SMS) was developed as a dynamic framework for scenery management. The framework describes scenery as a dynamic evolving concept and is integrated into ecosystem management. Ecosystems provide the environmental context for this scenery management system. This new method of scenery management, called Landscape Aesthetics, was adopted by the FS and is described in detail in Forest Service Landscape Aesthetics, A Handbook for Scenery Management, This method includes new terminology for scenery management, but corresponds to, and incorporates the terms and direction found in the Forest Plan. In Landscape Aesthetics, Scenic Integrity corresponds to VQOs. Scenic Integrity is a measure of the degree to which a landscape is visually perceived to be complete. This includes scenery sustainability concepts described in SMS Handbook Appendix J. It relies on field studies and photographs from inventoried sensitive viewpoints and other views of the project area, as well as coordination with project interdisciplinary team (ID Team) members, and consideration of public preferences for scenic quality.

2 Integration of this scenery analysis into project planning ensures that the Sherman Pass Project is consistent with scenery-related Colville National Forest direction, USFS policies, and applicable elements of the USFS Visual Management and Scenery Management systems. Appendix B of the Scenery Management System Handbook #701 provides a complete list of references requiring Forest Service management of scenery and aesthetics. 1.2 Management Direction Colville Forest Plan The Colville Forest Plan 1988 has designated the following Visual Quality Objectives (VQO) for the project area by prescription. The Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway (State Highway 20) is rated a sensitivity level 1 viewshed with a MA 3A prescription; the VQO is Retention in the foreground and a range of Retention to Partial Retention to Modification/Maximum Modification VQO in the middleground depending on visibility. The Bangs Mountain FR , South Sherman FR , North Sherman FR , Hall Creek FR and McMann/Quartz FR travel routes are rated sensitivity level 2 viewsheds with a MA 3A and MA 5 prescription in the foreground; the VQO is Partial Retention in the foreground and Retention to Partial Retention VQO middleground. The Kettle Crest National Recreational Trail is a sensitivity level 1 with a VQO Retention foreground. The developed recreation facilities of Log Flume Heritage Site, Canyon Creek CG, Growden Camp, Jungle Trail TH, Sherman Overlook, Kettle Crest TH and Sno Park, the New White Mountain Fire Interpretive Site, Bangs Mountain Vista Picnic Overlook and Sherman Creek TH are designated to the Retention VQO. The middleground and background landscape areas in the project area are prescribed to the land allocation MA 7 and MA 8; the VQO is Modification and Maximum Modification with a wood/forage and winter range habitat emphasis. Generally, these areas are not visible from Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway and the scenically designated travel routes and viewsheds. The Modification to Maximum Modification VQOs are minimums, higher VQO s of Retention to Partial Retention in areas that are sensitive for recreation and scenic objectives may be desirable. Wildlife objectives are generally very complimentary or compatible with scenic objectives. The following chart displays the Management Area, Visual Quality Objective, Viewshed Name and Sensitivity Level:

3 Management Area MA1 Old Growth Dependent Species Habitat 1,551 acres MA3A Recreation 3,814 acres Visual Quality Objective (VQO) Partial Retention to Modification Retention Partial Retention Viewshed Name Sensitivity Level 1 or 2 Distance Zone Foreground (FG), Middleground (MG) & VQO Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway Sensitivity Level 1: FG/Retention VQO, MG/Partial Retention to Modification VQO South Sherman FR Sensitivity Level 2: FG/Retention to Partial Retention VQO Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway - Sensitivity Level 1: FG/Retention VQO, MG/Retention to Partial Retention VQO Bangs Mountain FR Sensitivity Level 2: FG/Partial Retention VQO South Sherman FR Sensitivity Level 2: FG/Partial Retention VQO North Sherman FR Sensitivity Level 2: FG/Partial Retention VQO Hall Creek FR Sensitivity Level 2: FG/Partial Retention VQO McMann/Quartz FR Sensitivity Level 2: FG/Partial Retention VQO MA4 Research Natural Area 1,130 acres MA5 Scenic Timber 10,477 acres MA6 Scenic Winter Range 431 acres MA7 Wood/Forage 8,424 acres MA8 Winter Range 2,146 acres MA10 Semi- Primitive Motorized Recreation 23 acres MA11 Semi- Primitive Non- Motorized Recreation 5,044 acres Retention Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway - Sensitivity Level 1: FG/MG Retention VQO Retention Partial Retention Retention Partial Retention Modification Maximum Modification Modification Maximum Modification Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway - Sensitivity Level 1: FG/Retention, MG/Partial Retention VQO Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway - Sensitivity Level 1: FG/Retention, MG/Partial Retention VQO South Sherman FR Sensitivity Level 2: FG/MG Retention to Partial Retention VQO Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway - Sensitivity Level 1: FG/Retention VQO, MG/Partial Retention to Modification-Maximum Modification VQO Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway - Sensitivity Level 1: FG/ Retention VQO, MG/Partial Retention to Modification-Maximum Modification VQO Retention Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway - Sensitivity Level 1: FG/MG Retention VQO Kettle Crest Trail: FG/Retention VQO Retention Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway - Sensitivity Level 1: FG/MG, Retention VQO Sherman Pass Project Total acres = 33,040

4 The integration of VQOs from the old Visual Management System and Scenic Integrity Objectives from the new method of scenery management are described below. In areas designated to Retention VQO, all foreground landscapes shall have the visitor perception of natural appearing and will have HIGH scenic integrity. HIGH scenic integrity refers to landscapes where the valued Landscape Character appears intact. Deviations may be present but must repeat the form, line, color, texture, and pattern common to the Landscape Character so completely and at such scale that they are not evident. (USDA FS 1995, Landscape Aesthetics, p 2-4). In areas designated to Partial Retention VQO areas the visitor will perceive a natural appearing to slightly altered landscape viewed in foreground and middleground areas and will have MODERATE scenic integrity. MODERATE scenic integrity refers to landscapes where the valued Landscape Character appears slightly altered. Noticeable deviations must remain visually subordinate to the Landscape Character being viewed. (USDA FS, 1995, Landscape Aesthetics, p 2-4). In areas allocated to Modification VQO, human activities would be visually evident, but should blend into the landscape by utilizing naturally established form, line, color and texture of the natural landscape. Modification areas would have LOW scenic integrity. LOW scenic integrity refers to landscapes where the valued Landscape Character appears moderately altered. Deviations begin to dominate the valued Landscape Character being viewed but they borrow valued attributes such as size, shape, edge effect and pattern of natural openings, vegetative type changes or architectural styles outside the landscape being viewed. They should not only appear as valued character outside the landscape being viewed but compatible or complimentary to the character within. (USDA FS 1995, Landscape Aesthetics, p 2-4). In areas allocated to Maximum Modification VQO, landscapes would have VERY LOW scenic integrity. VERY LOW scenic integrity refers to landscapes where the valued Landscape Character appears heavily altered. Deviations may strongly dominate the valued landscape character. They may not borrow from valued attributes such as size, shape, edge effect, and pattern of natural openings, vegetative type changes or architectural styles within or outside of the landscape being viewed. However, deviations must be shaped and blended with the natural terrain (landforms) so that elements such as unnatural edges, roads, landings, and structures do not dominate the composition. (USDA FS 1995, Landscape Aesthetics, p 2-4). Foreground is based on landscape visibility and is defined as views up to ½ mile distance zone, immediate foreground is viewed up to 300, the middleground is ½ mile to 4 miles distance zone and background is 4 miles to the horizon from the travel way and use areas. Additional information and descriptions regarding VQOs may be found in the Forest Service Scenery Management System (USDA Forest Service 1995) and the Visual Management System (USDA Forest Service 1974) National Forest Landscape Management Handbooks.

5 The following map displays the Management Areas and corresponding Visual Quality Objectives. Colville-Forest wide Standards and Guidelines Recreation 1. Recognize undeveloped campsites, outstanding scenic, geological, botanical areas or areas where concentrated recreation use occurs as being significant in providing dispersed recreation opportunities. Inventory, evaluate, and manage these sites. Visual Resource Management 1. Cut blocks, patches, or strip cuts shall be shaped and blended to the extent practicable with the natural terrain. 2. Immediate foreground areas (approximately 500 feet) around significant dispersed recreation sites will be managed to meet the retention visual quality objective. 3. Foreground retention areas are to be managed for at least 30 percent of the stand to be 21 inches DBH (diameter at breast height) or greater in size. 4. Partial retention foreground areas are to be managed for at least 30 percent of the stand to be 16 inches DBH or greater in size. Trails

6 1. Protect trails and facilities during management activities with appropriate mitigation measures. 2. Reconstruct and/or relocate trails and facilities during management activities. 3. Trails interrupted by logging or road construction will be restored or substitute trails provided so the mileage of trails in a given area is not diminished. Trails may be closed during logging or construction activities for public safety. Clear directions for users will be provided during logging or construction activities on trails which will be kept open. Timber 1. Uneven age silvicultural systems will be favored in perennial riparian areas and foreground or middleground areas with a visual quality objective of Retention or Partial Retention. Generally, even-age silvicultural systems will be favored in areas with a visual quality objective of Modification or Maximum Modification. Fuel Treatment 1. Alternative methods of treatment for activity residues (logging slash) and natural fuels will be addressed in project-level planning and will be commensurate with resource management objectives. Colville-Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines Management Prescriptions MA1 Old Growth Dependent Species Habitat Retention to Partial Retention VQO Timber Scheduled timber harvest is permitted outside of developed recreation sites Harvesting Silvicultural Uneven-age management systems will be used to support the visual and recreation Treatments goals. Firewood harvest is permitted outside of developed recreation sites. MA3 Recreation Retention to Partial Retention VQO Timber Scheduled timber harvest is permitted outside of developed recreation sites. Harvesting Silvicultural Uneven-age management systems will be used to support the visual and recreation Treatments goals. Firewood harvest is permitted outside of developed recreation sites. MA4 Research Natural Area Research facilities will blend with the natural surroundings. Provide opportunities for research in ecosystems influenced only by natural processes. Timber No scheduled timber harvest is permitted. Harvesting Salvage and/or firewood harvest is not appropriate. Silvicultural Uneven-age management systems will be used to support the visual and recreation Treatments goals. Firewood harvest is permitted outside of developed recreation sites. MA5 Scenic/Timber Retention to Partial Retention VQO Visual Cutting units must not dominate the natural patterns of form, line, color, and Management texture. Provide a diversity of vegetative species, age classes, and size classes.

7 Timber Harvesting Silvicultural Treatments Prescribed Fire Insect & Disease Control Revegetate disturbed areas to an extent compatible with the surrounding area. Rehabilitation measures are to be applied where needed to restore visual quality. Scheduled timber harvest is permitted. Salvage and firewood harvest is permitted. Uneven-age management will be emphasized in the seen area of foreground and middleground. Both even-age and uneven-age management will be practiced in unseen and background areas. Planned and unplanned ignitions may be used as a means of achieving visual objectives. Prevent and suppress insect and disease outbreaks which threaten visual resources. MA6 Scenic/Winter Range Retention to Partial Retention VQO Visual Cutting units must not dominate the natural patterns of form, line, color, and Management texture. Provide a diversity of vegetative species, age classes, and size classes. Revegetate disturbed areas to an extent compatible with the surrounding area. Rehabilitation measures are to be applied where needed to restore visual quality. Timber Scheduled timber harvest is permitted. Harvesting Silvicultural Treatments Salvage and firewood harvest is permitted. Uneven-age management will be emphasized on foreground and middleground seen areas. Even-age management, with emphasis on 10 to20 acre regeneration units, will be the preferred management on background and unseen areas. MA7 Wood/Forage Modification to Maximum Modification VQO Visual Management Immediate foreground zone around significant dispersed recreation sites will be managed to meet the retention visual quality objective. Timber Harvesting Scheduled timber harvest is permitted. Salvage and firewood harvest is permitted. Silvicultural Treatments The full range of silvicultural prescriptions may be utilized. Even-age management will be emphasized. Clearcutting will be used only when it is determined to be the optimum method. MA8 Winter Range Modification to Maximum Modification VQO Timber Harvesting Scheduled timber harvest is permitted. Salvage and firewood harvest is permitted. Silvicultural Treatments Even-age management will be preferred, with emphasis on regeneration units of acres. MA10 Semi-Primitive, Motorized Recreation Retention VQO Timber Harvesting No scheduled timber harvest is permitted. Salvage of blowdown, and fire, insect, or disease killed timber would not be

8 Silvicultural Treatments Prescribed Fire Insect and Disease Control allowed unless catastrophic losses outside the area are anticipated. Firewood cutting is not permitted. Timber may be harvested to enhance recreation values when justified through site-specific analysis including public involvement. Planned and unplanned ignitions may be used as a means of achieving semiprimitive objectives. Prevent or suppress insect and disease outbreaks which threaten the semiprimitive objective. MA11 Semi-Primitive, Non-Motorized Recreation Retention VQO Timber Harvesting No scheduled timber harvest is permitted. Salvage of blowdown, and fire, insect, or disease killed timber would not be allowed unless catastrophic losses outside the area are anticipated. Silvicultural Treatments Salvage of blowdown, and fire, insect, or disease killed timber would not be allowed unless catastrophic losses outside the area are anticipated. Prescribed Fire Planned and unplanned ignitions may be used as a means of achieving Semi- Primitive, Non-Motorized objectives and to meet grizzly bear, caribou, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat objectives. Insect and Disease Prevent or suppress insect and disease outbreaks which threaten the Semi- Control Primitive, Non-Motorized objective or that are an imminent threat to caribou habitat. Desired Landscape Character People s interests and expectations regarding ecosystems help establish desired aesthetic conditions for the varied landscapes. The aesthetic characteristics of landscapes are an integral part of community life, forming the sense of place in which people live and interact with one another. Individuals who visit the Forest to experience its natural appearing and/or cultural landscape qualities value high scenic quality. The desired landscape character for Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway and other scenically designated viewsheds and travel routes is to promote a sustainable landscape character specific to each ecotype of the forest. All naturally established existing landscape patterns throughout the forest are to be maintained with changes that will not degrade the existing landscape character. Areas where unnatural landscape character exists from past management practices can be improved through rehabilitation or enhancement to promote landscape character that is scenically and ecologically attractive. The goal of scenery management is to promote landscape character that is naturally appearing and will be scenically sustainable in time. The landscape character goal for the Sherman Pass Project area is to maintain a natural appearing to slightly altered landscape character that expresses predominately natural processes in the scenic viewsheds where those landscape patterns exist. It is important to maintain high scenic quality along Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway - State Highway 20 travel corridor due to its designation as a State Scenic Highway as well as being rated a level 1 scenic viewshed in the Colville National Forest Plan. Retaining screening of the existing BPA power line corridor and the landscape setting in developed

9 recreation sites and identified dispersed recreation sites is a priority to retain high scenic quality in areas where a healthy canopy exists while reducing hazardous fuels conditions surrounding the Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway corridor. In areas where the landscape character is not sustainable due to the insect and disease infestations that are out of scale, the goal is to restore the landscape character to be more reflective of the inherent disturbance patterns associated with each ecotype. The primary concerns listed in the Ferry County Community Wildfire Protection Plan for this area are Infrastructure Area Wildland Urban Interface, in particular the Access Route Wildland Urban Interface which includes key ingress and egress along State Highway 20 (Sherman Highway) and the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) high tension power line providing electricity to the town of Republic and surrounding areas of Ferry County. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, Sherman Highway has an annual average daily traffic volume of 1,700 vehicles, with seasonal peaks exceeding 5,000 vehicles daily (Washington State Department of Transportation website, 2014 and Sherman Pass Scenic Byway Corridor Plan, 2004). The Sherman Highway and Bonneville Power Administration power line corridor are surrounded by hazardous fuels conditions that could pose impacts and disruptions of critical service to emergency services and commerce traffic, as well as disruption in power services. In addition, the Sherman Pass Project is covered by the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP). Under this program, forest restoration treatments would be implemented that would reduce hazardous fuels by focusing on thinning small diameter trees and treating strategic fuel breaks to modify fire behavior measured by the projected reduction of uncharacteristically severe wildfire effects for the forest type. The project would also maximize the retention of large trees, as appropriate for the forest type, to the extent that the trees promote fire-resilient stands. A transitional approach to move the high density stands towards a lower density species pattern and variety in composition through thinning management activities and reduction of hazardous fuels is desirable for the landscape character and scenic enhancement. Restoring pattern, structure, and composition appropriate to the fire regime is beneficial for scenic quality. Enhancement of unique and diverse habitats such as aspen groves and large tree viewing opportunities from travel routes, trails, viewpoints, and maintaining variety with tree species such as fall color aspects of Western Larch and riparian areas is desirable. The goal of scenery management is to promote landscape character that is naturally appearing and will be scenically sustainable in time by reducing some risk of large scale disturbances, through wildfire or insect and disease infestations that are out of scale for the vegetative character type. 1.3 Management Guidance Sherman Pass Scenic Byway Corridor Plan 2004 National Forest Landscape Management Volume 2, Chapter 1 the Visual Management System (Agriculture Handbook 462, USDA Forest Service 1974) Landscape Aesthetics, A Handbook for Scenery Management (Agriculture Handbook 701, USDA Forest Service 1995). Sherman Pass Road Analysis

10 SECTION 2: PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES 2.1 Resource Specific Design Criteria Design criteria/features Scenic Resources Design Criteria/BMPs Visual Quality The following objectives are developed to meet the intent of Moderate to High Scenic Integrity levels for Retention and Partial Retention Visual Quality Objectives foreground and middleground area as allocated for the following areas: Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway (State Highway 20); Bangs Mountain Forest Road ; South Sherman Forest Road ; North Sherman Forest Road ; Hall Creek Forest Road and McMann/Quartz Forest Road travel routes and the Kettle Crest National Recreation Trail, all developed recreation sites and identified dispersed recreation sites. There are county roads that provide access to private land in the roaded canyons that intersect State Highway 20 where residences are located, primarily in the lower elevations at the east and west ends of the highway corridor. These roads transition to forest service roads in the higher elevations or loop into the wildland urban interface that surrounds the project area, the travel routes have scenic value for people who live in the area and for dispersed recreation users. Care would need to be taken to keep the impacts of harvest and other activities in the foreground and middleground of the Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway (State Highway 20), Kettle Crest National Recreation Trail and all developed recreation sites to a minimum to maintain high scenic quality. It would also be important to enhance landscape character by increasing vegetation variety by promoting different age classes of tree species and thinning to expose large Ponderosa pine, Western larch boles and quaking aspen stands for viewing along the designated scenic travel routes. Maintain a landscape composed of a variety of textures and patterns. Maintain the highly textured skyline, ridgelines and dominating patterns of the swales. Maintain diversity and variety in sizes of leave trees in clumps and masses on a landscape scale. Minimize mechanical damage to existing leave trees. 1. The Forest Landscape Architect or designee will work with the district personnel on treatment prescriptions and marking guides, specifically in areas where proposed treatments fall within foreground areas that are sensitive for scenic objectives and will participate in unit layout in foreground units, marking of leave tree selection and, or, small clusters of leave trees where roads, trails, recreation sites are in the unit boundary to be determined at implementation. 2. When using cable logging systems, keep cabled corridors as narrow as possible to reduce contrasting line effects. Orient the corridors away from viewing locations when possible. This applies to the following cable units: 1, a, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , a, , a,

11 3. Scenic quality would need to be maintained around developed recreation sites, identified dispersed campsites, developed trails and other routes used for year round recreation. The immediate foreground (up to 300 ) is the sensitive zone. 4. Shade retention objectives would be important for maintaining the trails winter use. 5. Maintain existing screening of the Bonneville Power Administration power line running along Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway (State Highway 20) where a healthy canopy exists in coordination with reducing hazardous fuels. 6. Leave clumps of varying sizes of overstory and understory along the foreground travel routes of Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway (State Highway 20), Bangs Mountain Forest Road , South Sherman Forest Road , North Sherman Forest Road , Hall Creek Forest Road and McMann/Quartz Forest Road and Kettle Crest National Recreation Trail, all developed recreation sites and identified dispersed recreation sites. 7. Leave low stumps (8 or less) and cleanup woody debris cleanup in the immediate foreground area (up to 300 of seen area) from Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway (State Highway 20), Bangs Mountain Forest Road , South Sherman Forest Road , North Sherman Forest Road , Hall Creek Forest Road and McMann/Quartz Forest Road and Kettle Crest National Recreation Trail, all developed recreation sites and identified dispersed recreation sites. Stumps and woody debris left would be subordinate to the landscape. 8. Complete removal of ribbons, tags, and stakes where visible from the Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway (State Highway 20), Bangs Mountain Forest Road , South Sherman Forest Road , North Sherman Forest Road , Hall Creek Forest Road and McMann/Quartz Forest Road travel routes and Kettle Crest National Recreation Trail, all developed recreation sites and identified dispersed recreation sites after contract is completed. 9. In created openings, use irregular shaped openings (no straight lines or corners) with grouped leave tree islands to reduce visual contrasts by feathering the edges. Also, limit the size of created openings to limit soil color contrasts. Minimize skid trails or roads that create linear openings perpendicular to the normal line of sight. Mimic natural density changes around created openings and retain the natural variances within the stand rather that evening out the spacing of trees. Use irregular clumping and feathering of unit edges to avoid introducing dominating lines that could result from creating small patch openings. The intent is to reduce the obvious character changes occurring in the overall landscape. 10. Preserve the existing vegetation below constructed and temporary roads as much as possible for screening. Temporary roads occurring in foreground and, or, on slopes greater than 40% should have all vegetation left below the temporary road. Any changes during implementation in the temporary road locations from the mapped proposed action would need to be verified to ensure that scenic integrity is maintained. 11. Methods used to control prescribed burns should not dominate naturally established form, line, color and texture of the area in the Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway (State Highway 20), Bangs Mountain Forest Road , South Sherman Forest Road , North Sherman Forest Road , Hall Creek Forest Road and McMann/Quartz Forest Road 2053-

12 000 and Kettle Crest National Recreation Trail travel routes viewsheds, all developed recreation sites and identified dispersed recreation sites. Avoid dozer line construction in immediate foreground of developed recreation sites; utilize natural features as fire breaks. 12. Develop marking guidelines to minimize the amount of paint seen from areas of scenic concern. Paint using Individual Tree Marking so that paint will be removed from the unit when trees are harvested. Paint ¾ of circumference of the tree bole, making sure paint can be seen from all angles. These marking techniques would be used along immediate foreground of the Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway (State Highway 20), Bangs Mountain Forest Road , South Sherman Forest Road , North Sherman Forest Road , Hall Creek Forest Road and McMann/Quartz Forest Road and Kettle Crest National Recreation Trail travel routes, all developed recreation sites and identified dispersed recreation sites. The following units would require special scenic marking guidelines, 1, 3, 16, 17, 50, 2, , , Canyon Creek and Sherman Pass REC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 4, 82, , a, , , , , a, , , , , , , , , , , , , a, a, a, , and In addition, this applies to units where roads, trails, recreation sites are in the unit boundary to be determined at implementation. 13. Locate landings out of seen area of Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway and where possible, locate landings out of the immediate foreground (or seen area) in Retention and Partial Retention Visual Quality Objective allocation areas; or screen as much as possible where vegetation is available and consistent with fuels treatment objectives; or use existing landings where they exist and seed after project is complete, leave wood on site and scatter. Ares of scenic concern are the foreground of the Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway (State Highway 20), Bangs Mountain Forest Road , South Sherman Forest Road , North Sherman Forest Road , Hall Creek Forest Road and McMann/Quartz Forest Road and Kettle Crest National Recreation Trail travel routes, all developed recreation sites and identified dispersed recreation sites. Where feasible, landing could occur on National Forest System roads but should stay within the existing prism as much as feasible. Landings should not be placed on or near sensitive viewing areas where they may impact the scenic integrity. 14. Plant native larger trees and shrubs to help the area recover more quickly visually after removal of diseased overstory in developed recreation sites along Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway and Canyon Creek dispersed recreation area.

13 SECTION 3: AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES 3.1 Issues for Analysis The following issue was chosen for analysis because it represents cause-effect relationships between the implementation of the alternatives and scenic resources and serve to highlight impacts and trade-offs for the decision maker. Indicators have been selected that provide understandable, quantifiable and responsive measures of the degree of impact that would result from the implementation of the alternatives. Landscape Scenic Viewsheds The project area is located approximately 4 miles southeast of the town of Republic, WA and approximately 5 miles west of the town of Kettle Falls, WA. The project area encompasses a corridor along Washington State Route Highway 20 and crosses the Kettle Crest. It includes land on both the Three Rivers and Republic Ranger districts and lies entirely within Ferry County. Scenic quality is an important amenity in our lives. People s interests and expectations regarding ecosystems help establish desired aesthetic conditions for the varied landscapes. Scenery provides the setting for all activities experienced by forest visitors. Each recreational setting is comprised of scenic attributes that are derived by the environmental context of topography, geology, and climate. These underlying factors are expressed and highlighted by the scenic attributes that they support. Scenery, just as any other resource, must be cared for and managed for future generations. The activities proposed by the Sherman Pass Project potentially affect the current and future condition of these valued scenic resources. Managing scenery resources involves the process of analyzing effects, implementing scenic character goals and applying scenic conservation design features to achieve the Colville Forest Plan desired conditions and direction for scenery resources. The landscape character goal for the Sherman Pass Project area is to maintain a naturally appearing to slightly altered landscape character that expresses predominately natural processes in the Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway and other designated scenic travel routes and viewsheds. A transitional approach to move the high density stands towards a lower density, an open mosaic pattern and resilient composition, becoming more fire resilient and ecologically sustainable in time is desirable for the landscape character. Enhancement of large tree viewing opportunities from travel routes, viewpoints, and recreation destinations is desirable. There is opportunity to increase landscape variety by creating and maintaining a series of specific plant stages that leave a diversity of different age classes and a variety of natural appearing open spaces. From a scenery enhancement approach, ecologically sound landscapes can also be aesthetically pleasing as well as sustainable, being reflective of the inherent natural disturbance regimes that are in scale to the appropriate vegetative type, whether it is the natural role of fire, insects and/or disease. When the amount of disturbance exceeds the natural ecosystem parameters, the risk of unnatural catastrophic level disturbances increases and can cause a dramatic change to the existing scenery and landscape character.

14 Indicator: Amount of changes seen on the landscape, including changes affected by the shape, size and arrangement of fuels reduction units, removal of trees, harvest methods, and location of treatment units in a given viewshed and from fixed viewpoints. Consistency with Forest Plan standards and guidelines; the resulting scenic integrity level in the short-term and long-term (based on how well the vegetative and prescribed fire treatments meet the established Retention, Partial Retention, Modification and Maximum Modification VQOs). Analysis Methods: The scenery effects analyses used for this report are those found in the Scenery Management Handbook #701. Scenery management is based on the classic aesthetic factors of form, line, color and texture, as well as the principles of sense of place. Scenic integrity measures the amount of natural or socially valued appearance in a landscape along with the amount of visual disturbance that contrasts with and detracts from the appearance (the valued scenic character) existing at the time of measurement. Incomplete and Unavailable Information: Information necessary for evaluating scenery effects is sufficient. Analysis Area: The effects to the scenery resources can be short-term and long-term. The time frame of measurement is from when the project is implemented and is completed. Short-term is usually less than 5 years, and long-term is 5 years to 50 years. Effects that are eliminated by the natural course of a single growing season are not considered effects because they are so short lived. Most treatments have long-term effects as vegetation takes time to become re-established while logging activities such as skidding and slash burning are usually short-term effects lasting less than 5 years. The project analysis area is the area from which the proposed treatments can be visibly discerned. This analysis is done within the project boundary. The Scenery Management Handbook #701 and the supplemental Appendix J are the sources for scenery resource analysis. Landscape Scenic Viewsheds The Sherman Pass Project area is comprised of 33,040 acres and is based on priorities laid out in the Ferry County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (Schlosser et al. 2006). For more information visit the Ferry County Community Wildfire Protection Plan webpage at Ferry County Community Links under Topic Downloads. The Sherman Project area has been divided into four separate landscape areas based on landscape visibility, sensitivity levels and visual quality objectives for the scenic travel routes for assessing scenic effects. These four landscape areas are: 1. The Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway (State Highway 20)

15 2. South Sherman FR and North Sherman FR Hall Creek FR and McMann/Quartz FR travel routes 4. The Kettle Crest National Recreation Trail 3.2 Affected Environment Existing Landscape Character Local residents, recreation users and tourists value the scenery within the Sherman Pass Project area. The landscape character is predominately a naturally appearing forested environment viewed in the foreground, middleground and background of the viewsheds. In the project area the landscape variety ranges from the common landscape character type typical of the Okanogan Highlands to unique habitats located throughout the landscape. (USDA 1982). The Sherman Pass Project is located on the north and south side of Highway 20 at Sherman Pass and to the National Forest boundary on the east and west. Fire suppression activities, vegetation management, mining, roading, early settlement patterns, and recreation have been a dominant influence on the existing landscape character of the Sherman Pass Project area. Disturbances are generally within endemic levels with the exception of ongoing mountain pine bark beetle mortality in lodgepole pine stands. These insect and disease infestations are changing the landscape character from a healthy green canopy to one that is becoming brown along areas of the viewsheds, of particular scenic interest is in the developed recreation sites where safety is a concern as well as the existing landscape character becoming degrade in these settings. In addition, there is an abundance of ladder fuels, high surface fuel loadings and overstocked stands that contribute to a more unstable landscape for fire behavior. Scenic Attractiveness Scenic attractiveness is the primary indicator of the intrinsic scenic beauty of a landscape and of the positive response it evokes in people. Based on commonly held perceptions of the beauty of landform, vegetation pattern, composition, surface water characteristics, and land use patterns and cultural features, the scenery is rated on a three point scale: Class A Distinctive, where landform, vegetation patterns, water characteristics and cultural features combine to provide unusual, unique or outstanding scenic quality. Class B Typical, where landform, vegetation patterns, water characteristics and cultural features combine to provide ordinary or common scenic quality. Class C Indistinctive, where the landscape does not have characteristics that add to the variety, unity, vividness, mystery, intactness, order, harmony or uniqueness of the scenery. The Sherman Pass Project is predominately rated Class A and Class B scenic attractiveness, Class A is easily identifiable with landscape features such as the Kettle Crest mountain range and Sherman Pass cultural features along the scenic byway. The scenic attractiveness rating is applied to the process of evaluating the value of the area s scenery resource.

16 Sense of Place Sense of place is addressed to display how the area is perceived by the public, and to display the physical setting in which the project area lies. The identity of a place created by people s social meanings and attachments, including valued scenery and recreation settings, cultural and spiritual values, economic, social and biophysical characteristics. Managers using the concept of sense of place must define a specific framework for the definition and use of sense of place. The sense of place for the Sherman Pass Project area is the Scenic Byway for driving the corridor and enjoying the developed recreation sites ranging from interpretive day use areas to trailheads and campgrounds. It is also a big backyard with a variety of year round seasonal recreation activities that occur including from developed and dispersed camping, hunting, sight-seeing, driving for pleasure, mountain biking, road cycling, motorcycle riding, equestrian riding, snowmobile riding, cross country skiing, and other dispersed use. West Interpretive Pullout at Sherman Pass Existing Scenic Integrity Every landscape changes over time, in turn, the landscape vegetative character continues to change whether it is actively managed or allowed to naturally evolve. In the Sherman Pass Project area, there has been a change in historic vegetative species and vegetative patterns as described in the forest fuels and vegetation narrative. The changes are mainly attributed to past timber sales and fire exclusion. In a majority of the area, the resulting patterns are becoming less sustainable in the long-term due to high risk of future wildfires and existing insect or disease outbreaks that contribute a degraded forested setting for recreation and designated travel route viewsheds within the area. The higher risk of wildfire in the rural interface is discussed in the fire and fuels behavior narrative. The species of vegetation and spatial distribution of plant communities that have been affected by or resulted from fire suppression activities are evident to visitors; however, they are not widely understood to be the result of human intervention in the fire regimes. These effects (different vegetation communities and understory vegetation) are relatively subtle from a visual standpoint and not strongly linked with the more common perception regarding fire, such as black and silver snags, brown needles and black charred trunks. For purpose of scenic analysis, subsequent references to the effects of fire refer to the obvious visual evidence that occurs as a direct result of fire rather than the subtle effects of different species of vegetation and spatial distribution of plant communities that are often in advanced succession. The vegetation patterns have changed from historic composition and pattern through fire suppression, timber harvest, and grazing over the last one hundred years. Much of the Sherman Pass landscape has

17 experienced large wildfire as evident in the White Mountain Fire in 1998 that burned approximately 3400 acres in the southern part of the planning area. This area is now an important interpretive stop called the White Mountain Fire Interpretive Site with an overlook that views the dramatic landscape that has emerged out of the large wildfire which is an open landscape with stands of weathered gray snags creating a stark scenic contrast to the surrounding forested landscape. Scenic integrity is the amount of human caused deviation in form, line, color, and texture of a landscape. Scenic integrity serves as a frame of reference for measuring scenic integrity levels based on the valued attributes of the existing landscape character being viewed. The degrees of integrity vary from VERY HIGH to VERY LOW. Scenic Integrity is measured on the Colville National Forest through Visual Quality Objective levels defined by the USFS Visual Management System s Chapter 1 USDA Handbook # 462. The following table displays the 6 scenic integrity levels and conditions associated with each level and how people perceive them. Table 2.1. Scenic Integrity and Condition. (USDA FS 1995, Landscape Aesthetics, p A-1, 2-4) Scenic Integrity Level VERY HIGH (Preservation VQO) HIGH (Retention VQO) MODERATE (Partial Retention VQO) LOW (Modification VQO) VERY LOW (Maximum Modification VQO) UNACCEPTABLY LOW (for inventory purposes only, not a management objective) Condition Unaltered Appears Unaltered Slightly Altered Moderately Altered Heavily Altered Unacceptable Modification The existing scenic integrity of the Sherman Pass Project area has a range of scenic integrity levels (conditions) from HIGH to MODERATE, naturally appearing to slightly altered based on vegetative characteristics. Within the project area there are evidences of past activities. Partial removal treatments can be seen in partial retention areas, where stumps are apparent. Along with the evidence of treatments are the indirect effects of additional variety in color and texture as deciduous shrubs and larch species have grown. Areas of retention visual quality objective are intact. The scenic integrity levels meet the Forest Plan for a natural appearing foreground and middleground from the designated travel routes and viewsheds and areas of moderately altered to slightly altered in some middleground and background areas. View of uncharacteristic High Fuel Loadings near Highway 20

18 Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway Viewshed The Sherman Pass Project area has been divided into four separate landscape areas based on landscape visibility, sensitivity levels and visual quality objectives for the scenic travel routes for assessing scenic effects. These four landscape areas are: 1. The Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway (State Highway 20) 2. South Sherman Forest Road and North Sherman Forest Road Hall Creek FR and McMann/Quartz FR travel routes 4. The Kettle Crest National Recreation Trail The following narrative describes the affected environment for each landscape area. Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway Retention VQO Affected Environment The Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway (State Highway 20) travels through the project area for 35 miles connecting the communities of Republic to the west and Kettle Falls on the east. Along this section of State Route 20, the Byway passes through the Kettle Range. Highway 20 is the main travel corridor with several road corridors intersecting the highway and travelling through the diverse mountainous landscape. These level 2 road corridors are the Bangs Mountain FR , South Sherman FR , North Sherman FR , Hall Creek FR and McMann/Quartz FR The project area is nestled into Columbia Mountain-Jungle Hill area to Graves Mountain range on the north end and Mt. Washington, Sherman Peak, Paradise Peak and Scalawag Ridge area on the south. Sherman Creek runs along the south side of Highway 20 adding variety in the scenery east of Sherman Pass. The Sherman Pass Project is not visible from towns or private residences. However, the project area is adjacent to private lands including homes and other developments, Sherman Creek Recreation Wildlife Area and Washington State Department of Natural Resources managed lands. The project area is covered under the Ferry County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) which identifies key infrastructure and key developments to protect. Enclosed Highway 20 Road Corridor Limiting Views to Foreground

19 The landform is seen as a rolling moderately varied terrain with low-rounded ridges to steeply dissected mountain ranges located in numerous stream lined valleys. Vegetative patterns vary from areas of highly evenly textured slopes to coarsely textured mosaic openings in the forest canopy with seasonal fall color of western larch, quaking aspen and other riparian hardwoods. The most dominant species are lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, western larch, western red cedar, aspen, alder and cottonwood. Riparian areas add distinct variety in vegetation, fall colors and presence of water. The travel corridor is enclosed in the lower elevations on the east side of Sherman Pass. There is opportunity to create a more open mosaic landscape pattern along the highway to create more variety and open views to the landform surrounding the highway, especially on the south facing slopes on the north side of the highway. Thinning around large Ponderosa pine trees to expose the tree boles for viewing and thinning to favor western larch and ponderosa pine would be a positive enhancement for scenery. The project area is located on both sides of the Sherman Pass Scenic Byway in the foreground and middleground areas. The proposed vegetation management treatment is located in three primary areas along the highway, the west side of Sherman Pass from the forest boundary near the Quartz Creek area winding up towards the Mt. Washington Area, the Sherman Pass Summit Area, and the west half of Sherman Pass Highway on both sides of Highway 20. Sherman Pass has an elevation of 5,575 feet and is the highest pass in the State of Washington kept open year round. Views are open to distant panorama vistas along the west side of the scenic byway and become predominantly confined to an enclosed tree lined foreground on the east side of the pass except in a few open areas where views of the surrounding mountains are seen. At the lower elevations along the east side of Sherman Pass, the travel corridor is an enclosed valley landform with Sherman Creek flowing along the south side of the highway. The forest opens up to more ponderosa pine dominated stands that allow viewing into the stand in areas along the valley bottom where meadows and riparian areas are seen. The landform rises steeply to an elevated terrace along this section of the highway on the northern side. The BPA power line corridor (Ferry County PUD) is located on this terrace and parallels Highway 20, it is screened very well because of this topographical location, but at Sherman Pass Summit area the powerline corridor becomes more visible from the highway and several developed recreation sites where it crosses through the area. On the eastern side of Sherman Pass the powerline is not visible from the highway. BPA Powerline Corridor On North Terrace Bench

20 The BPA power line corridor has timber stands around it that are creating potential safety concerns for continued uninterrupted operation due to hazard trees and unnatural fuel build up close to the powerlines. There is an opportunity to manage fuels and hazard trees along the power line right-of- way Some areas viewed along the Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway are landscape character that is not reflective of a healthy green canopy and the forest is becoming brown/diseased resulting from mountain pine beetle infestations that are slowly dominating the forest stands. This is of particular scenic concern in developed recreation sites along Sherman Pass Scenic Byway. Within the Sherman Pass National Scenic Byway there are seven developed recreation sites along the travel route. Each site is unique offering different experiences for the user. In addition, the Kettle Crest National Scenic Trail traverses through the Sherman Pass summit area. It is important to maintain a vegetation setting around each site as much as feasible, favoring hardwood and understory shrubs would be needed to soften removal of the diseased overstory. It is important to plant large trees and shrubs to help the area recover more quickly visually after removal of diseased overstory. The desired future condition for recreation and scenic quality is to not have a lodgepole dominated stand, winter logging is preferred treatment. The following map and table are from the Sherman Pass existing conditions for fuels and vegetation that summarizes strategic areas where fuel reduction treatments would be prioritized based on associated values at risk to uncharacteristic fire. These 12 areas display fire danger and values at risk for the Sherman Pass project area, each compartment is associated with specific landscape viewsheds.

21 Compartment Size (Acres) % in Moderate Fire Danger % in High Fire Danger Values at Risk (VAR) Hall Creek % 63% Highway 20 Obrien % 68% Highway 20 Crest South % 67% Highway 20 Crest North % 81% Highway 20, BPA, Developed Rec Sites Hoodoo % 74% Highway 20, BPA Graves % 57% Highway 20, BPA Lane % 56% Highway 20, BPA Coyote-Trout % 62% Highway 20, BPA Paradise % 83% Highway 20, BPA Fritz-Growden % 82% Highway 20, Developed Rec Site South Huck % 68% Highway 20 Bangs % 69% Highway 20, Developed Rec Sites The White Mountain Fire Interpretive Site is located east of Sherman Pass summit along Highway 20, the site is natural appearing with opportunities to reduce ladder fuels along the south side of the highway. This site is located in the Crest South landscape area with 27% of the area in moderate fire danger and 67% in high fire danger for Highway 20. Sherman Overlook is located east of Sherman Pass on the north side of Highway 20, the site is dominated by beetle killed lodgepole pine, there is opportunity to restore the panoramic view that the kiosk was designed for by thinning the trees viewed from kiosk area and below Highway 20. The site is highly scenic, there is opportunity to reduce ladder fuels and enhance the site by favoring large Ponderosa pine, western larch, subalpine fir and other desirable healthy trees/stands where they exist. It is important to treat the area in a manner that has low impact to site and to plant large trees and shrubs after removing diseased overstory. The area has been treated in the past to reduce fuels. This site is located in the Crest South landscape area with 27% of the area in moderate fire danger and 67% in high fire danger for Highway 20 and overlaps with Crest North where 14% of the area is in moderate fire danger and 81% is in high fire danger. View from Sherman Pass Overlook Kiosk

22 The view from Sherman Overlook towards Paradise Peak is natural appearing with a mosaic textured pattern of different forest stands looking across the valley. The foreground slopes off steeply toward Highway 20 limiting management opportunities for logging systems. View from Sherman Pass Overlook towards Paradise Peak The Kettle Crest Trailhead is located at the east side of Sherman Pas on the north side of the Byway. It provides access to The Kettle Crest National Recreation Trail and has two campsites with a vault toilet. The Kettle Crest National Recreation Trail traverses through the Sherman Pass summit area, it leads to the Columbia Mountain loop trail accessed from the Kettle Crest Trailhead which provides access to the top of the Columbia Mountain with a distant panorama view overlooking the landscape area. The area is dominated by lodgepole pine. The area has been treated in the past to reduce fuels. This site is located in the Crest South landscape area with 27% of the area in moderate fire danger and 67% in high fire danger for Highway 20 and overlaps with Crest North where 14% of the area is in moderate fire danger and 81% is in high fire danger. High Fuel Loading dominated by Lodgepole Pine with Mountain Pine Beetle Jungle Hill Trailhead and CG is dominated by lodgepole pine. The vegetation around the site needs to be thinned or managed to reduce fire hazard as well as promote a sustainable forested environment and ecosystem. The desired future condition for recreation and scenic quality is to not have a lodgepole dominated stand, winter logging is preferred treatment. This site is located in the Crest South landscape

23 area with 27% of the area in moderate fire danger and 67% in high fire danger for Highway 20 and overlaps with Crest North where 14% of the area is in moderate fire danger and 81% is in high fire danger. Growden Camp is located 12 miles east of Sherman Pass on the south side of the highway. This developed recreation day use site is designated as a state highway rest area. There is an existing road across the creek and traverses up the hillside at the edge of the slope break between the meadow and steeply sloping hillside that could be used for vegetation management. It is important to keep the road screened viewed from Growden Camp and the Sherman Pass Scenic Byway by leaving trees/vegetation on the downhill side of the road. This site is located in the Fritz- Growden landscape area with 15% of the area in moderate fire danger and 82% in high fire danger for Highway 20 and the developed recreation site. Growden Camp Meadow Area with Road at toe of Slope Canyon Creek Campground is located approximately 1 mile west of the Forest boundary on the south side of the highway. The vegetation in and around the campground needs to be thinned or managed to reduce fire hazard as well as promote a sustainable forested environment and ecosystem. There is a large dispersed recreation site that is used for camping, motorized use and access to Sherman Creek. The desired future condition for recreation and scenic quality is to not have a lodgepole dominated stand, winter logging is preferred treatment. This site is located in the South Huck landscape area with 28% of the area in moderate fire danger and 68% in high fire danger for Highway 20 and overlaps with Bangs landscape area where 27% of the area is in moderate fire danger and 69% is in high fire danger. The Log Flume site is dominated by lodgepole pine with a high potential for future mortality by mountain pine beetle. The vegetation around the site needs to be thinned or managed to reduce fire hazard as well as promote a sustainable forested environment and ecosystem. The desired future condition for recreation and scenic quality is to not have a lodgepole dominated stand, winter logging is preferred treatment. Mountain pine beetle attack in this stand is imminent. There is also a need to manage the Cottonwooods in the area for safety concerns as they become mature. It would be important to plant native shrubs and large trees to restore the area more quickly. Standard annual maintenance/safety hazard tree reduction will address short term hazard tree issues/concerns but there

24 is a need to have a long term adaptive management plan for desired future condition to restore and maintain a sustainable forested setting for landscape character. This site is located in the South Huck landscape area with 28% of the area in moderate fire danger and 68% in high fire danger for Highway 20 and overlaps with Bangs landscape area where 27% of the area is in moderate fire danger and 69% is in high fire danger. Log Flume Site Trail and Parking Area with Diseased Lodgepole Pine Stands Dominating the Setting South Sherman Pass Forest Road and North Sherman Pass Forest Road Partial Retention VQO Affected Environment South Sherman Pass Forest Road is a main secondary travel route accessed off Highway 20 on the south side of the highway east of Sherman Pass Summit. South Sherman Pass FR loops around Paradise Peak and comes out by Growden Camp. The FR provides opportunities for driving for pleasure, hunting, dispersed use, and ties into several forest roads out of the project area. North Sherman Pass Forest Road is a main secondary travel route accessed off Highway 20 on the north side of the highway east of Sherman Pass Summit. The FR provides access to several developed trailheads for the Kettle Crest National Recreation Trail including Jungle Hill, Wapaloosie and Old Stage. The North Sherman Pass FR traverses along the side slopes paralleling Kettle Crest Mountain Range. The landscape area is natural appearing and primarily in a semi-primitive non-motorized setting. There is opportunity to manage fuels along the foreground area of the travel routes to enhance the scenic integrity and stability. The travel routes are located in the Crest South landscape area with 27% of the area in moderate fire danger and 67% in high fire danger for Highway 20 and overlaps with Crest North where 14% of the area is in moderate fire danger and 81% is in high fire danger. The area is also influenced by